Tim-ber: Mercer KOs Sylvia in 9 Seconds

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Tim Sylvia
went down like a giant California redwood.

Cut down by an overhand right from 1988 Olympic boxing gold
medalist Ray Mercer,
the former UFC heavyweight champion fell to his back in slow motion
and ate two brutal right hands on the ground as a stunned sparse
crowd looked on in amazement. The blows brought an end to the
Adrenaline MMA 3 “Bragging Rights” main event in just nine seconds
on Saturday at the BJCC Arena.

“Wow,” Mercer said. “I didn’t get a chance to warm up.”

Beaten by a man who lost an exhibition bout to Kevin “Kimbo
Slice” Ferguson two years ago, Sylvia (24-6) entered the match
at 311 pounds. He landed a leg kick out of the gate, which only
seemed to spur Mercer. The 33-year-old Miletich Fighting Systems
product has lost three fights in a row, and his days as an elite
heavyweight appear numbered at best, over at worst. It took him
several moments to rise to his feet, still groggy from the
punishment he absorbed.

His bout with Mercer (1-0), originally booked as a six-round boxing
match, was changed to an MMA-rules fight earlier in the week.

“Everything was against me,” said Mercer, who called out Eric “Butterbean”
Esch after the emotional victory. “I whooped that ass.”

The co-main event saw Jeremy Horn
use a methodical and precise attack, as he slowly exposed weak
spots in the armor of the talented but inexperienced Chris
Davis.

Horn (81-19-5) pushed into the clinch, secured a double-leg
takedown and went to work on the mat. The one-time UFC light
heavyweight title challenger mounted Davis, secured back control
and opened a cut with an elbow from the top as his opponent
struggled to recapture half guard. More strikes from Horn forced
Davis to yield his back again. Horn sank the rear-naked choke for
the finish, as Davis tasted defeat for the first time as a
professional.

Fred Beeson/Sherdog.com

Ray Mercer stopped Tim
Sylvia with a right hand.

The victory snapped a three-fight losing streak for Horn, who had
not competed since his unanimous decision loss to Rousimar
Palhares at UFC 93 in January.

In his first appearance since being cut by the UFC, Rich
Clementi toyed with Sasuke Zapata before finishing him with an
arm-triangle choke 4:18 into the first round.

Clementi (33-14-1) outmaneuvered the slippery newcomer, employed a
superior top game and mounted him twice. Zapata (0-1) escaped the
first mount, only to have the savvy Clementi cast an ominous smile
as he stood above him. Clementi swarmed his grounded foe, mounted
quickly and dropped punches until Zapata surrendered his back. As
he turned into Clementi, Zapata found himself caught in the
arm-triangle. There was no escape, and the tapout came soon
after.

Salter (2-0) stormed out of the gate, fired punches with reckless
abandon and never allowed Traven to find his comfort zone. The
two-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion could not get the fight
to the ground on his terms, where his world-class grappling skills
might have made a difference. Salter was patient in his pursuit
following his early opening burst, dropped Traven (6-4-1) with a
series of punches and left him momentarily unconscious with strikes
on the ground. Traven’s first MMA appearance in more than four
years was a forgettable one.

Finally, Miletich Fighting Systems journeyman Joe Jordan
spoiled the professional debut of Alabaman Juan Zapata. The end
came 48 seconds into round one.

Carrying his hands low, Jordan (45-12-2) dared Zapata to trade from
the start and waded fearlessly into exchanges. A veteran of nearly
60 fights, the 30-year-old kept Zapata on the defensive, backed him
into the cage and moved in for the kill. He landed a crushing body
shot that left his opponent wounded and backpedaling. Jordan then
flurried against the cage, and Zapata (0-1) collapsed under the
punishment, falling face first onto the black canvas. Sensing the
end was near, Jordan finished off Zapata with a couple of
well-placed knees to the body.